I am really concerned about this. I have obviously changed some details. I work with children so know certain confidential details. A teenager I work with, X, is considered at risk because their parent lives with someone on the sex offenders register. I don't know the nature of the offences, just that X is on the at risk list.
X has been used as a babysitter by a good friend of mine - Y, who has 2 small DC. I feel that I should morally let Y know that X may not be a suitable choice to protect their DC but there are several barriers to this.
- X may of course not be any kind of danger to other DC and I could be slandering a vulnerable child.
- I would be breaking confidentiality and putting my job at risk.
- Y knows the family, lives next door and may already be completely appraised of the situation and have done their own risk assessment (so to speak)
DH thinks of course I should tell Y, but emphasise that Y can't acknowledge how they know. I feel that the only way I could do it is to ask Y not to use X again but not explain further, although that seems just like spreading gossip and rumour. I couldn't live with myself if harm came to more DC due to this horrible situation.
Currently I am sitting tight and I am going to talk to the Child Protection Officer at work next week. I suppose I am curious to other people's opinions, particularly if you have this awkward work/friends crossover before. Thank you.